7 mile beach---tour or on your own ?

[letusgo]

Hi going on 12-18 Mariner , not in GC very long. Would you advise taking ship tour to beach or just grab a cab on our own. If on own, can we rent chairs etc at beach ? Have 2 kids with us so want to make most of our beach visit. Thanks

[ilv2trvl]

letusgo,

It's a lot cheaper to go to the beach if you take a taxi and go on your own. The ship will charge you an arm & a leg and then you still have to pay for transport.

There are couple of nice beaches on 7 Mile Beach. The closest is Royal Palms. Since the last few storms passed by Cayman I hear the beach isn't very wide and they have a lot of rocks.

Beach Club is where the pre books go so it's usually a zoo.

Sea Grape Beach is the farthest but it's my favorite. Nice & wide with great facilities.

The taxi is $5.00 pp R/Trip.

Hope this helps

[Ellya]

You can rent chairs etc. at Sea Grape Beach as well. They have food, bar, restrooms etc.

[sportsterjohn]

we were at seagrape a few days ago. Nice beach and alot cheaper then booking via the cruise line.

[Rowan555]

Does Sea Grape have pedal boats or any other water toys to rent? If so, any idea how much they cost?

 

Also, can you take the bus to this beach rather than a taxi?

[sportsterjohn]

they have some beach toys right there at the beach. They have the giant watertricycle looking things, sail boats and jet skis. They are a bit pricey though. Not sure where to pick up the regular buses but I have heard it is doable, but the taxi's to seagrape are only $5pp.

[TheWog]

Sea Grape has all that stuff for you. You can kayak, jet ski, snorkel, water ski, etc. Chairs for rent with umbrellas and food/drink. I just used the taxis and they were $4 per person each way.

[letusgo]

Thanks for info. Could you give idea how long it takes to Sea Grape as we are on tight time frame. Also, any problem getting a cab back to ship ?

[sportsterjohn]

No problem getting a cab back, they have them there constantly. The only thing that can cause any problems is traffic. It took us about 10-15 min to get there and about 20 or so to get back.

[ilv2trvl]

Just searched for seagrapebeach.com and found they have a site. It wasn't there a month or so ago and it looks like it isn't finished yet. They have a link to a photo gallery but it's "Coming Soon". There are a couple of photos though and it's linked to a website called The Tour Company with some interesting excursions.

[dyslexic pirate]

Is there an admission fee for 7 mile beach?

[sportsterjohn]

sea grape has a $10 admission, you get a free soft drink and a chair. not sure about the other beaches.

[drew sailbum]

Not to nitpick, but much has been said in local media on occasion that the beaches of Cayman are all public up to the high water mark. Admission charges are not acceptable, however companies may rent amenities (chairs and such) or limit use of such amentieis to the guests of that company.

 

As such, beach chairs are normally set up only above the high water mark, where private land begins. Chairs are rented at various beaches, and the level of other amenities offered vary according to the particular company.

[Red Dog]

I believe that the only beach that charges an admission is The Beach Club. Royal Palms, Sea Grape and Courtyard don't. They rent chairs, umbrellas etc. You're much better off going to a beach that wants you to come rent a chair or something than to go to a beach that enforces the "High Water Mark". They can't kick you off but why go where you're not wanted? Check out seagrapebeach.com

 

Hope this helps

[Nanatravel]

Sportsterjohn, the fee at Seagrapes is not an admission as you certainly can lie on this beach with just a beach towel. It is a rental fee for a lounge chair that also includes a cool drink and the attendant moving the chair for you. They have to maintain the equipment somehow and this price has not changed in years even after much hurricane damage and little/less tourism in 2004 and 2005 prime cruise seasons. Taxi's are plentiful and line up to return quests to town, also. I did the "ship tour" thing once to the Colony beach club and it was a serious waste of money. People were elbow to elbow on the beach and they had no chairs available. You still have to pay for transportation also.

 

Bon Voyage